Around the Empire: Yankees news - 6/19/24

New York Magazine | Chris Smith: Chris Smith offers a poignant tribute following the passing of Willie Mays at the age of 93, and I certainly encourage everyone to read it, but I’d like to take a moment to pay my own respects.

My family actually wasn’t a big baseball household growing up — I was the only one really bitten by the baseball bug. My dad probably couldn’t tell you who won the World Series the previous year and could maybe only name a handful of active players. But one of my first baseball memories was of my dad telling me that “Willie Mays was the greatest human to ever play baseball,” and it always stuck with me the conviction with which he shared that belief with me. We had a long strip of grass in the backyard and we spent more than a few afternoons trying to replicate The Catch, my dad lofting the ball high into the air and trying to describe in as much detail as possible how Willie made the impossible play; back before I could see it with my own eyes on YouTube. Rest in peace, Mr. Mays, and thank you for being part of my introduction to this beautiful game.

Yahoo Sports | Jason Owens: Jasson Domínguez just can’t seem to catch a break. Only weeks after he returned from Tommy John rehab, the Yankees’ top prospect is back on the IL, and we have now learned that he suffered an oblique strain on a check swing this past weekend. Imaging revealed what Aaron Boone described as a “moderate strain” and there is no timetable for his return. As a single point of reference, Luke Voit missed a month to a Grade 2 oblique strain in 2021. In 23 games between Tampa, Somerset, and Scranton prior to the injury, Domínguez was slashing .356/.404/.609 with six home runs and 13 RBIs, and we certainly wish him a full and speedy recovery from this latest setback.

Associated Press | Mike Fitzpatrick: Aaron Judge dodged a bullet, with X-ray and CT scans coming back negative after he was hit on the left pinky by a 94-mph fastball in the third inning of the Yankees’ 4-2 series-opening win over the Orioles. He was able to take some swings in the batting cage prior to last night’s game, but it was decided that a day off was the best course of action with the captain still experiencing significant soreness in his hand. There is a chance he could be available for the series finale later today.

MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: As the corresponding move for Gerrit Cole’s reinstatement from the 60-day IL, the Yankees transferred Anthony Rizzo to the 60-day IL, from which he will be eligible for reinstatement in mid-August. Rizzo was forced to leave the game vs. the Red Sox after colliding with reliever Brennan Bernardino and landing awkwardly on his right arm. He was later diagnosed with a fractured radial neck near his right elbow and will be shut down from baseball activities for 4-to-5 weeks with an overall recovery timetable of roughly eight weeks. Ben Rice was called up as his replacement and collected his first big league hit in his MLB debut Tuesday.

The last note is that there will likely be another bullpen move today. Anthony Misiewicz and Clayton Andrews were both called up ahead of the Orioles series with Cody Poteet and Ian Hamilton landing on the IL. Andrews quickly went back down to clear room on the active roster for Cole, and now, Misiewicz is back to Triple-A as well. The 29-year-old needed 30 pitches and a helluva catch by Alex Verdugo to get through a scoreless ninth yesterday, so the Yankees will get a fresh arm in there — most likely Jake Cousins or Cody Morris since they’re healthy relievers on the 40-man roster.